Letter opener



May 21, 1968 G. v. HAMILTON 3,383,768

LETTER OPENER Filed July 11, 1966 United States Patent O 3,383,768LETTER OPENER Glen V. Hamilton, 1930 E. 47th St., Anderson, Ind. 46013Filed .luly 11, 1966, Ser. No. 564,120 3 Claims. (Cl. 30-287) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An envelope opener having an elongated body with aV-shaped channel therein, a T-sllaped cutter member mounted within thechannel, and grooves in the outer sidewalls of the body to providegripping means.

At present, most envelopes are opened by the Wellknown knife-type letteropener. While effective, the knifetype letter opener, with its point andsharp edges is potentially dangerous, particularly around children. Itis also easily misplaced and difficult to detect under papers and thelike because of its thin construction. Thus, envelopes are often openedby hand with resulting paper-cuts, tearing `of the envelope so thatimportant return addresses and the like may be disgured and otherwell-known disadvantages.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improveddevice for opening envelopes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device foropening envelopes which is simple, ef cient and safe.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device foropening envelopes which has a molded body portion, thereby producing anextremely economical device.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings:

PIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of theimproved letter opener;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the letter opener;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cutter blade assembly;

FIG. 3a is a bottom view of the cutter blade assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a section view taken through lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 in thedirection of the arrows.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a body portion having agroove running along the entire length of one surface thereof. A cutteror knife portion extends a slight distance inwardly of the groove andhas a Stem which is xedly sealed in the body portion of the letteropener. In order to open an envelope, the upper end of the envelope isdisposed within the groove and the opener moved so that the cutter bladeengages the fold of the envelope and slits it open. The opener can thusbe moved from left to right or right to left against the entire upperportion of the envelope.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same, Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Patented May 2l, 1968 ICC Referring more particularly to the drawings,the envelope opener shown generally at l0 includes a body portion 11having side walls 12 which are adapted to be received in a hand, endwalls 13 and top and bottom walls 14 and 15, respectively. The bottomwall 15 has a substantially V-shaped channel 16 therein for receiving anenvelope 22 to be opened. A cutting means shown generally at 18 isixedly sealed in the body portion 11 and extends downwardly therefrominto the channel 16. Grooves 17 in the outer side walls of the bodyportion 11 provide a gripping means.

The cutting means includes a stem portion 18a which is Xedly sealed inthe body portion 11 at a point midway between the end Walls 13. The stem18a terminates in a knife portion 19 having outwardly and downwardlyinclined surfaces so that the cutting means 18 resembles an invertedT-shaped member with the inner surfaces of the top cross bar downwardlyinclined. Portion 19 extends into the channel 16 and carries a firstcutter blade 20 afixed to one of the inclined surfaces and adjacent oneof the side walls and a second -cutter blade 21 aixed to the otherinclined surface and adjacent a second side wall. Ends 24 and 25 ofportion 19 are pointed and edge 26 is flattened and tapered at ends 24and 25 as shown in FIG. 3a.

When an envelope 22 is positioned within the channel 16, the center ofthe envelope fold line is aligned with either point 24 or point 2S ofcutting means 1S. The center width of edge 26 spreads the envelope asthe letter opener is moved across the top of the envelope. Thisspreading action helps to keep the knife point centered in the fold.

The V-shaped channel aligns the envelope 22 with the knife portion 19 ofcutting means and holds the envelope against the cutting means so thatthe point 24 or 25 can enter the envelope. The channel also holds theenvelope straight while it is being cut. The channel widens at 30 aboutthe cutting means 18 to provide sufficient clearance of the then cutadjacent edges of the envelope and to prevent clogging of bits of paperaround the cutting means.

The envelope may be opened by bringing either an end portion of theenvelope in contact with one of the cutter blades, or by bringing anintermediate portion of the top surface of the envelope in contact withone of the cutter blades. For instance, if the ends of the envelope arecrimped or mashed down, the letter can be opened in the middle.

The body portion 11 may either be molded about the cutting means 18 ortwo identical opposing plastic parts may be molded and then fittedtogether by tting means or glue, and the cutter blade glued or frictiontted or otherwise secured therein.

The cutter blade can have one cutting edge or it may have two cuttingedges located at opposite ends so that the envelope may be inserted ineither end of the channel 16. It can be seen that the cutter surfacesare recessed so that it is impossible for anyone to cut themselves onthis device. This is particularly important when a letter opener is tobe used around children or may be left in places which are easilyaccessible to children.

The thickness of the letter opener is such that should the letter openerbe buried under papers, as often happens on a desk, the user may readilynd it through the stack of papers. It can also be seen that by employingplastic or similar materials an eiective and yet inexpensive and safeletter opener has been provided by the present invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modications that corne within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

I claim:

1. An envelope opener comprising an elongated body portion having sidewalls adapted to be received in a hand, end walls and top and bottomwalls, said bottom wall having a substantially U-shaped channel thereinrunning the length of said body portion, cutting means mounted in saidbody portion, said cutting means having a stern fixedly sealed in saidbody portion and extending downwardly into said channel where said stemterminates in a knife portion, said knife portion having a lower edgesubstantially parallel to said channel and a rst cutting edge inclinedoutwardly and downwardly from said stern to said lower edge, said rstcutting edge and said lower edge meeting to form a rst pointed end.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said knife portion has a secondcutting edge inclined outwardly and downwardly from said stem to saidlower edge, said second cutting edge being substantially oppositelydirected from said rst cutting edge, said second cutting edge and saidlower edge meeting to form a second pointed end at the opposite end ofsaid lower edge from said rst pointed end.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said channel widens and deepensabout said cutting means to provide clearance for the cut adjacent edgesof an envelope and to prevent clogging of bits of paper around thecutting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 161,128 3/1875 La Blanc et al.2,610,399 9/1952 Adams et al. 30-294 X FOREIGN PATENTS 225,802 7/ 1943Switzerland. 151,209 4/ 1953 Australia.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner.

